Captive elephants and cetaceans

Modern zoos and entertainment parks have vastly improved over the decades. However, they still retain some of the old menagerie-style characteristics, such as restrictive space, lack of stimulation, and artificial social conditions. Highly intelligent species that are wide-ranging with complex social lives are at a greater risk for poor welfare in captive settings than others. Here, we explore the shared characteristics and welfare challenges of captive elephants and cetaceans, focusing on those characteristics such as space, sociality, and cognitive complexity, found to be important factors in coping with captivity across many species. We discuss the implications for whether elephants and cetaceans can thrive in zoos and marine parks and offer an alternative in the form of sanctuaries.